Numérique vs. digital
In French, the terms 'numérique' and 'digital' both refer to digital technology, but they are used in slightly different contexts.
Numérique
'Numérique' refers to anything related to numbers or digital technology, especially when emphasizing the technology's use of binary code or its numerical aspect.
Les livres numériques sont faciles à transporter.
(Digital books are easy to carry.)
La photographie numérique offre de nombreuses possibilités de retouche.
(Digital photography offers many editing possibilities.)
L'horloge numérique affiche l'heure avec des chiffres.
(The digital clock displays the time with numbers.)
Digital
In French, 'digital' is primarily used to refer to fingers ('doigts'), but it has increasingly been adopted from English to talk about digital technology, especially in informal contexts or in marketing.
Le marketing digital est crucial pour les entreprises aujourd'hui.
(Digital marketing is crucial for businesses today.)
Les empreintes digitales peuvent débloquer votre téléphone.
(Fingerprints can unlock your phone.)
J'ai suivi un cours sur le dessin digital.
(I took a course on digital drawing.)
Summary
'Numérique' and 'digital' both refer to the field of digital technology in French, with 'numérique' being more commonly used for things specifically related to digital technology or numbers, and 'digital' being similar to the English 'digital', although in French it also refers to fingers. While 'numérique' is preferred in formal and technical communication, 'digital' is increasingly used, especially in informal contexts and in marketing.